Overshoe



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. H. SPRAGUE.

OVERSHOE.

No. 454,143. Patented June 16, 1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. SPRAGTUE. OVBRSHOE.

No. 454,143. r Patented Juhe 16, 1891.

wit 'sss. j lnvenfon UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

lVILLIAM H. SPRAGUE, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

OVERSHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,143, dated June 16, 1891.

Application filed March 5,1891. Serial No. 383,896- (No model.)

To all whom it nmy concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENRY SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Overshoes or Sandals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of. my invention is to provide an overshoe or sandal which can be put on or removed from the foot either in the light or darkness, while sitting or standing, without stooping and without using the hands to assist, but by simply pressing the foot into it, that will not easily slip off the foot until its removal is desired and yet capable of being removed easily at will. Iattain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an overshoe and inclosed boot for the right foot, at the front of the heel, showing the diflerent heights of the side walls between the heel portion and the vamp. D represents the inner side wall, and E the outer side wall.

Fig. 2 is a side View of the rear portion of a boot with my improved overshoe, having a .part of the heel portion broken away to show the plate that is attached to the heel portion at or near the back on the inside to prevent the overshoefrom slipping off while in use. A represents the boot; B, the plate; a, the horizontal seam between the counter and heel of the boot, in which the plate B is intended to engage, and 0 represents the overshoe.

Fig. 3 shows the operation of the plate B while the overshoe is being removed from the foot, and Fig. 4 is'a plan of the plate B. Figs.- 5, 6, and 7 are perspective views.

In order that the overshoe may be easily put on the foot, I reduce the height of the heel portion to where the quarter or counter of the boot or shoe to be inclosed is the widest horizontally, which is a little abovethe heel, as shown in Fig. 2, leaving a small point at the back, or not, as desired. This will enable the foot to slip into the front or toe portion of the overshoe without bending the heel portion, as is customary, after which the heel will readily slip into its proper place by pressing downward, the heel portion of the overshoe being made of sufficient stiffness to retain its shape while so doing. I also make the side walls of the overshoe or sandal forward of and between the heel portion and the vamp stiff and of different heights, the inner side higher than the outer side. The height of the inner side is to be determined by the shape of the boot or shoe to be inserted, and the height of the outer side is to be as low as can be made without impairing the usefulness of the overshoe. The object of this is to cause the overshoe to fit the inclosed boot or shoe snugly at the top of the overshoe without any unnecessary material in the overshoe. The inner side being higher than the outer side will also enable the wearer to determine in the dark, by feeling with the foot, which foot the overshoe belongs on, and the heel portion, being more stiff than the toe portion, will enable the wearer to determine when the overshoe is in the right position to have the foot inserted.

If desirable, the overshoe may be made to fit either foot alike, in which case both side walls are to be made of the same height, the position of the overshoe when about to be put on in the dark being all that is necessary to know.

To prevent the overshoe from easily slipping off while in use, I fasten to the top edge of the heel portion, which is to be properly strengthened, a metallic plate or tongue of suitable shape fastened at the upper edge or end to the top of the inside of the heel portion at or near the back, as at B, Fig. 2. The lower end or edge is adapted to rest in the horizontal seam of the inclosed boot, as at a, Fig. 2, or to catch against the heel, as desired. The plate or tongue is to be held in position by the pressure of the overshoe against the heel portion of the boot and the length of the tongue is to be governed by the requirements under which it is to be used, but must not be long enough to prevent its being inverted, as in Fig. 3, when the boot is withdrawn from the overshoe.

To remove the overshoe, press downward on the lower part of the heel with the toe of the other foot F, Fig. 3. The plate B, being prevented from slipping down the heel of the inserted boot or shoe by the projection at the top of the heel or pressing against the heel,

andbeingpnlled downwardetthe point where the upwardly-extended portion 1), and the I0 it is secured to the top of the overshoe, will plate B, attached to the upper edge of the turn over backward, as in Fig. 3, and allow inner side of the heel portion, adapted to enthe overshoe to slip off at once. gage in the groove formed by the heel-seat 5 What I claim as my invention, and wish to of a shoe or boot, substantially as described. secure by Letters Patent, is \V. II. SPRAGUE.

The herein-described overshoe, the heel Witnesses: portion and outer side of which are of-snbstan- CLARENCE D. ASHLEY, tially the same height, the inner side having MORNAY WILLIAMS. 

